Workouts without standing up

[cjsmith]

OK, situps work PART of my abs. If I do enough situps I get that nice "I did something" twinge in a band just below my belly button. What works the sides? What works the upper area between my belt and my ribs?

Comments

[hot-turkey.livejournal.com]

I've been assigned to do planks, on all four sides, every night. A plank is pretty much what it sounds like: hold your body as straight as you can, as close to horizontal as you can get it, with your weight supported only at your feet and shoulders. I've been told that if I can get to three minutes on a side, things are very good -- right now I can manage two minutes without too much trouble. This is to deal with lower back pain, which I've had more or less continuously for over six months now.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh yikes, I remember those! I had them only one way (face down) but man, it took me a while to build up to where I could hold it.